Home Run Derby

In order to avoid the Ryan Howard situation from last year, where a player who obviously belonged in the top 40 was lumped into Group E and then half the Derby took him in that group …

Adam Laroche and his 32 Home Runs have been called up from Group E, replacing Gary Sheffield in Group D.

The authors of Game of Shadows have posted an afterword to their investigation into Balco and Barry Bonds - one which tallies some intriguing growth spurts Bonds has had during his tenure in San Fran …

… the freakish growth of Bonds’ body parts in his years with the Giants: from size 42 to a size 52 jersey; from size 10 1/2 to size 13 cleats; and from a size 7 1/8 to size 7 1/4 cap, even though he had taken to shaving his head. 

“The changes in his foot and head size,” they write, “were of special interest: medical experts said overuse of human growth hormone could cause an adult’s extremities to begin growing, aping the symptoms of the glandular disorder acromegaly.

Funny how this is yet another case of life imitating the Simpsons - remember the episode when Mr Burns got all those MLB ringers for his softball team?  And he had them all drink Ye Olde Nerve Tonic?

“It’s a brain and nerve tonic, rich in proteins and electromagnetic juices. It promotes robust health. Of course, it has been known to cause gigantism, but only in rare cases. Try some!”

Of course, one player got hooked on the stuff with disastrous results - the picture looks like it could be Bonds to me - except that the player in the episode was Ken Griffey Jr..